CP, Missionaries

Thank you for your excellent editorial “Is Cooperation a Principle or a Convenience?” in the Oct. 2 issue of The Alabama Baptist. 

The historical perspective was well done. As a retired Southern Baptist missionary I would like to make one observation. Those mega churches that send out their own missionaries fail to recognize that they are usually riding on the backs of the many smaller churches that faithfully support the Cooperative Program.

The six-day missions trip and vacation (because a 10-day trip is usually 2 days to travel, 2 days vacation and 6 days of missions work) most often depends on the career missionary supported by the Cooperative Program to arrange hotels, ground transportation, translators, a place to minister and to follow up on what was done. 

I know because as a career missionary on the field supported by the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, I have hosted those groups. Some did truly valid missions work but it could not have happened without the career missionary.

Ben E. Hope
Huntsville, Ala.